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Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?
- Thread starter Huntn
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Yes, and the easier to swallow version of these are cozies. Which are quite pulled back in terms of explicit description of characters and events, and usually a side-plot of a cheery nature. Can't say I've ever come across a thriller that managed to send a chill down my spine. I've been told everyone will come across it in their life. Presuming they enjoy thrillers.
Edit: Funny anecdote. About 7 or 8 years ago I rented what I presumed what was the Sherlock Holmes big time Hollywood movie only to get through half the film and wonder:
a) Why I hadn't seen the two big names involved in the filming.
b) Why it was about dinosaur footprints.
Suffice to say, I rented the wrong movie. A good enough lesson to always examine what you're renting or purchasing, and not rely on the words "Sherlock Holmes," and presume you've picked up what you wanted to get.
I believe the plot of that movie was a murder mystery which ties into your post, Scepticle. Generally speaking, if you enjoy mysteries or thrillers, you should start with some of the best in history and branch out from there. Many of today's great mystery writers take a lot of lessons from Doyle's and Christie's writings.
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What are cozies? I've never heard the term.
No, I'm not really interested in murder mysteries - although I read them and applaud the cleverness and wit in some of the plots. (And yes, I have read Conan Doyle and Christie; I did all that as a teenager).
To my mind, (and this is simply my preference), I want more from a book than a whodunnit or whodunit - a good thriller/murder mystery will explore the society and a seriously good one will have you asking questions of that society and world in a way which might not have occurred.
When Peter Hoeg decided to write an alienated half-Greenland woman - rather than the usual, tired, divorced middle-aged man that he initially had in mind - as his protagonist in "Miss Smilla's Feeling For Snow", or when Martin Cruz Smith decided not to have the predictable middle-aged jaded American stumbling around in Moscow, but switched the focus of the protagonist to that of a Russian detective with a troubled background in the old Soviet elite, "Gorky Park" (both have said this in interviews), the centre of gravity of both novels shifted dramatically allowing a totally different (and far more compelling) story to be told.
I am not sure that a thriller is meant to 'send a shiver down your spine', but the best ones work in terms of character, pacing, murder mystery, setting and context. The murder means something in the context of the story. The very best will have made you see things a little differently, and sometimes will make the sort of points about a country, culture or society that one may hope to see in thoughtful political writing but so seldom do.
For "thrills down spine", I'd suggest horror, but that is not a genre to my taste.
Long time since I read this but it was very good.
Ah: Is this work recommended? If so, I shall most certainly take a look at it.
"1066 And All That..." is a splendid (and hilarious) satire on English history....
I'm ReadingTFM for once. "It just works" is true enough but honestly... you have to know what piece of the screen to start pushing or pulling on.. And in iOS 12 it's not all quite the same for the iPhone as the iPad. I converted an iPad first and got used to it, then did the SE and hit a different learning curve here and there. Oh well, I've learned other things I never knew about before either, so not complaining. Not really... 
oh my.
Now I'm anxious.
I think it was pretty good.. it's been so long since I read it that I don't recall... on the upside I'll at least get to hear another informed opinion from @Scepticalscribe
on the upside I'll at least get to hear another informed opinion from @Scepticalscribe 
oh my.
Now I'm anxious.
I think it was pretty good.. it's been so long since I read it that I don't recall...
Me too re “An Instance of the Fingerpost”.....
Currently reading two books, one for a class I am taking and one for pleasure. I have been assigned the following book, which I am actually really looking forward to reading!
Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters
Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters
Currently reading two books, one for a class I am taking and one for pleasure. I have been assigned the following book, which I am actually really looking forward to reading!
Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters
From what I could gather, (and I saw the excellent TV series some years ago and also read the book written by Stephen E Ambrose), Richard Winters, while an outstanding officer, was an extraordinarily reserved and self-contained man; while I have no doubt that the military aspects of the actual engagements he took part in will be addressed, (and addressed thoroughly yet modestly) I doubt you will come away from that book having learned much about Richard Winters the man.
Look forward to hearing what you think of it.
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A History of God, Karen Armstrong.
It’s a discussion of how the three monotheistic religions began and influenced each other.
It’s a discussion of how the three monotheistic religions began and influenced each other.
Good book. I enjoyed it a great deal! I definitely think everyone should read it!Please let us know your review, interested.
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Yeah, I picked it up while waiting for my library to get the audio book I want to listen to but turn out to be pretty enjoyable.
Just finished a rather delightful and interesting first novel, America for Beginners, by Leah Franqui. It's an unusual story of a recently-widowed middle-aged woman from India traveling to the US in order to discover what about America had intrigued her recently-deceased son and to learn more about his life in this country, his relationships and his death. Rather than just going directly to where her son had last lived, loved studied and worked, she starts her journey in New York City, having paid for a tour of the US via a small company catering to Indian tourists. The characters are very well drawn in this novel, especially the Indian widow and her two travel companions, a young man from Bangladesh serving as guide (even though he's only been in the US a year himself!) provided by the touring company and a young American unemployed actress hired as a companion for the widow to ensure safety and modesty. The interactions among these three plus others in the book are really well-done and realistic; the reader is likely to grow very fond of these characters. Along the way we learn a lot about differing cultures and customs, the impact of family dynamics, the pressure in many societies to conform, fit in with cultural norms. There are humorous bits throughout the book and there are sad bits, with the storyline continually drawing the reader in to see what happens next in these people's lives..... Highly recommended!
Actually, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by this one. I am a third of the way through it and in this particular book he goes into a nice amount of detail about himself and what/how he feels about certain people. I really like this book and have been surprised to learn more than I thought I would about him. So far so good!
Finished reading "Batman:Earth One" Volume 2. Really good take on a different Batman from another world in the Multiverse. Really well written with excellent artwork! Geoff John's just keeps proving that he's a one of the best writing talents in the business. All the Earth One graphic novels I've read to date have been really excellent. The J. Michael Straczynski "Superman: Earth One books were really excellent, too. If you like graphic novels I highly recommend these!
I’ve always got two or three on the go, but the one that’s holding my attention right now is titled, The Secret War, by Max Hastings. Essentially an account of all the intelligence and code breaking during WW2 done by both sides. I’ve read numerous accounts of British efforts and a few that just scratched the surface of German endeavours but this one is a pretty thorough regarding the actions of both sides, Pacific and European theatres.
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